Female employees file lawsuit against Apple
Date
6/23/2024 8:35:41 AM
(MENAFN) Apple is embroiled in a legal battle as two longtime female employees file a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of systematically paying women less than their male counterparts for similar roles. Filed in San Francisco, the lawsuit has been elevated to a class action representing over 12,000 current and former female employees across various divisions including engineering, marketing, and AppleCare.
The lawsuit, spearheaded by employees with over a decade at Apple, alleges discriminatory practices in both hiring and performance evaluations. It contends that Apple's approach to setting starting salaries based on applicants' "pay expectations" inherently disadvantages women, resulting in lower initial compensation compared to men. This practice, according to the plaintiffs, perpetuates historic pay disparities and systematically undervalues female employees.
Moreover, the lawsuit claims Apple's performance evaluation system is biased in favor of men, impacting raises and bonuses. This alleged bias, the plaintiffs argue, further contributes to the gender pay gap within the company.
Joe Sellers, a lawyer representing the employees from Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, emphasized the legal implications of Apple's practices. He criticized Apple's policy of using pay expectations to determine starting salaries as disproportionately affecting women. Sellers underscored that such practices are not justifiable under current employment laws.
One of the plaintiffs, Justina Jong, a customer and technical training instructor, reportedly uncovered the pay disparity issue when she inadvertently saw a male colleague's W-2 form, sparking the legal action.
The lawsuit casts a spotlight on Apple's internal policies and practices, raising broader questions about gender equality and fairness in corporate America, particularly within the tech industry. It comes amidst growing scrutiny of workplace dynamics and the persistent challenge of achieving pay equity across various sectors.
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